With the exception of dental morphology, all dental observations are recorded in the Dental Inventory/Development/Pathology module. This module follows the recommendations found in “Standards” (Buikstra and Ubelaker,1994) except for molar occlusal wear, which follows the system of Smith (1984).
- One module handles all dental inventory, development, wear, and pathology observations; toggle views with a single click.
- Separate deciduous and permanent dentition data entry screens that easily toggle with a click.
- A tooth scored as ‘Missing’ will auto-fill all subsequent data fields as ‘Not Observable’ when appropriate.
- Error windows appear when inappropriate data is entered for a given tooth inventory score.
- Additional auto-fill buttons for ‘Fully Developed’ and ‘Healthy’ dentition.
- Press Help to view visual guides to dental standards.
Permanent and deciduous teeth are recorded in separate data entry screens, which are easily toggled by clicking their respective radio buttons. The presence/absence of each tooth is recorded on the Inventory screen (appears by default), while the data entry screens for tooth formation , dental occlusal wear, and pathology appear by clicking on the respective Development, Wear, and Pathology buttons. Click the Help button within each screen to view a visual guide for most standards.
Data entry in this module is contextually driven; a tooth scored as ‘Missing’ will auto fill all subsequent data fields as ‘Not Observable’ when appropriate. For example, a tooth lost antemortem cannot be scored in Osteoware for dental development, wear, and most pathology (except alveolar abscessing), otherwise an error window appears if attempted.
Dental pathology is recorded for each tooth, with menu tabs for scoring the presence and type/location of: carious lesions, abscesses, hypoplastic/hypocalcification defects, and dental modification. The menu tabs are contextually driven, meaning the tabs available depend on the inventory score for that tooth. For example, if a tooth is missing ante- or postmortem only the Abscesses tab will be available. Comments fields are available on the main data entry screen, as well as the pathology screen and within the dental modification tab.
References
Buikstra, J.E. and D.H. Ubelaker. Standards for Data Collection From the Human Skeletal Remains. Arkansas Archaeological Survey Research Series No. 44. Arkansas Archaeological Survey: Fayetteville, 1994.
Smith, BH (1984). Patterns of molar wear in hunter-gatherers and agriculturalists. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 63:39-56
